Counterfeit beauty products in particular are becoming increasingly common and easily available on auction sites, online market places, rogue websites and social media. Checking the authenticity of a product is proving to be a lot harder, as consumers cannot gauge the look and feel of a product as they did before when buying on the high street. Generic stock images are also frequently used to deceive consumers into believing they are buying the real deal, warns the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU).
In the last 18 months, PIPCU says that it has helped to protect consumers from being ripped off online by suspending more than 5,500 websites selling fake luxury branded goods as well as seizing more than £3.5m of fake goods.
The percentage of fake goods seized by customs because of health and safety concerns to consumers has doubled in recent years, according to the unit. These include items such as perfume, make-up and electrical beauty items.
Fake electrical beauty goods, such as hair curlers, dryers and straighteners are not subject to the same safety tests as genuine items and so the bogus product is often very dangerous, the authorities warn. It could cause electrocution or overheat and catch fire, potentially burning hair, skin and scalp as well as putting homes and lives at risk.
Laboratory tests have shown counterfeit perfume often contains poisonous chemicals including cyanide and even human urine. While fake cosmetics such as eyeliner, mascara, lipgloss and foundation have been found to contain toxic levels of chemicals and harmful substances such as; arsenic, mercury and lead. All of these can cause allergic reactions, such as skin irritation, swelling, rashes and burns as well as leaving the consumer with longer term health problems. Counterfeit make-up is often produced in un-sanitised and un-hygienic factories and there have been cases where rats’ droppings and poison have also been found in the phoney cosmetics.
In 2014 PIPCU dismantled a criminal operation suspected of importing and selling counterfeit goods. The team seized a shipping container which contained what is believed to be more than 4,700 counterfeit versions of one of the UK’s most popular beauty brands, including foundation, bronzer, lipgloss, eye shadow and eyebrow pencils.
Fraudsters have also been known to knock-up counterfeit sun-cream and pass it off as well known brands. However they often contain little or no SPF at all and so offer no protection to harmful UV rays which could lead to long term skin damage, as well as containing substances which could cause irritation to the skin. PIPCU is urging online shoppers to be aware that by purchasing counterfeit goods online they are running the risk of their financial and personal details being compromised and being used for other fraudulent scams, as well as exposing their computer to malware and viruses.
City of London Police, Detective Superintendent Maria Woodall who oversees the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) said: “Many people don’t know about the real dangers counterfeit beauty products pose to their health and so that is why this week we are urging the public to Wake up – don’t fake up!
“Criminals are exploiting every opportunity to fool customers into buying counterfeits in order for them to make some quick cash – putting peoples’ health, homes and lives at risk. Beauty products are meant to enhance your features however the fakes can in fact do quite the opposite. Our general rule is; if it seems too good to be true then it probably is! Not only could these products have serious implications to your health and well-being but by simply going online and buying from a rogue site or dealer, your personal and financial information is at risk.
“We have had victims who have bought fake items online only to discover later that the criminals behind the site have used their payment details to make further purchases or even use their personal details to set up hundreds of illegal sites selling counterfeit goods.”
Electrical Safety First, a charity dedicated to reducing deaths and injuries caused by electrical accidents, is supporting PIPCU’s ‘Wake up – don’t fake up!’ campaign this week.
Phil Buckle, Director General of Electrical Safety First said: “ Counterfeit electrical products are dangerous. Time and again we have seen these items overheat, cause electric shocks and even fires. By purchasing and using these counterfeits, even unwittingly, consumers are putting themselves, their families and their property in danger. We understand the desire to bag a bargain, but it is simply not worth the risk just to save a few pounds .”
PIPCU is a specialist national police unit covering UK industries that produce legitimate, high quality, physical goods and online digital content from intellectual property crime. The operationally independent unit was launched in September 2013 with funding from the Intellectual Property Office (IPO). The unit is based within the Economic Crime Directorate of the City of London Police, the National Policing Lead for Fraud.
Tips for safe online shopping
Trust your instincts – if an offer looks too good to be true, then it probably is. Legitimate designer items are rarely discounted, so do not rush and be fooled into believing you are getting a good deal.
Check the spelling and grammar on the website and of the URL – often the people behind these sites do not pay a lot of attention or care to this detail. Fraudsters may also try to deceive you by slightly changing the spelling of a well-known brand or shop in the website address.
Look to see where the trader is based and whether they provide a postal address – just because the web address has ‘uk’ do not assume the seller is based in the UK. If there is no address supplied or there is just a PO Box or email, be wary.
Only deal with reputable sellers – only use sites you know or ones that have been recommended to you. If you have not bought from the seller before, do your research and check online reviews. People will often turn to forums and blogs to warn others of fake sites. If you are buying an item online you can check to see if the website is a legitimate stockist by visiting www.brand-i.org
Ensure the website address begins ‘https’ at the payment stage – this indicates a secure payment.
Keep security software and firewalls up-to-date. Regularly update your internet browser when a new patch-security update is released.
Don’t access links in unsolicited emails – fraudsters will design these, along with websites, to look genuine to trick victims into entering personal information, when in fact they are fraudulent. Always type in the website address or use a search engine to find a site.
Ask the trader if there is a returns policy or guarantee. Most rogue traders will not offer this.
If you are not sure whether the items are genuine, do not enter your payment details – it is not worth the risk.
Watch out for pop-ups appearing asking you to confirm your card details before you are on the payment stage. Never enter your PIN online.
If you have purchased an item you believed to be genuine but now suspect this may not be the case you can report it to Action Fraud online or call 0300 123 2040.
If you suspect someone to be involved in the sale or trade of counterfeit items you can report to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information-online/
